Too much of Framingham politics over the past year has been about personalities rather than policies. We need to stop focusing on individuals and more on what we specifically want out of our city government.

The fact is that Framingham has the potential to transform in 2020 from a city that reacts to situations around us to one that takes the lead. Here are ten areas that our city can take the lead on in the next 12 months and that I will gladly raise the banner for:

1. A requirement that new or renovated city buildings and all new apartment buildings in Framingham have solar panels or other alternative energy sources
2. Real progress in our effort to expand the Bruce Freeman rail trail through Framingham from Route 20 to Framingham Centre – and while we are it, take a look at adding a bike-friendly bridge over Route 9
3. Steps toward implementing the Community Preservation Act (CPA), which will allow us to preserve key areas of open space all over Framingham
4. Implementation (not just discussion) of a strategic plan for Framingham’s buildings including Perini, the Memorial Building, the former Danforth Museum and McAuliffe Library sites and others
5. Encouraging innovative practices in our municipal operation that will allow us to reduce our overall tax burden without sacrificing services
6. Collaboration with our School Committee and Mayor to provide necessary resources to our schools to support innovative 21st century teaching and learning
7. The creation of the first Framingham municipal dog park
8. The redevelopment of the Nobscot Plaza into a community asset rather than a blight
9. A system that will encourage collaboration between our economic development department and property owners to turn vacant properties into thriving success stories
10. A demand that the State of Massachusetts revise its plan to account for the massive burden that would be placed on Framingham by the proposed Mass Pike realignment. As of right now, this project makes ZERO sense for Metrowest.

I am looking forward to getting to work on these and other priorities after tomorrow’s inauguration. 2020 is going to be a game-changer for Framingham and I am honored to be a part of it.